Game 13

Drew and his Florida Jr. Everblades teammates hit the ice for the first time in 2019, facing off against the Palm Beach Breakers in West Palm Beach. This was our first trip to the Palm Beach Ice Works arena, and it may have been one of the nicest rinks we have encountered down here. The only drawback to me was seating along the side of the glass (there was none - only at the ends). Drew wasn't a fan of the Olympic sized rink, though I didn't notice any difference in play from a spectator standpoint.

On to the game... the first period was a close 14 minutes, with both teams trading scoring chances, but neither team able to get one into the back of the net thanks to some outstanding goaltending on both ends of the rink. The Breakers had the edge in shot attempts, thanks in large part to the Everblades serving the only penalty of the period.

The second period was more of the same. Once again the Everblades were forced to kill off the period's only penalty, which they successfully managed to do. It appeared as though this period would also end in a 0-0 tie, but a Breakers break-away with just over two minutes remaining led to a shot that the Everblades goalie just couldn't get enough off to stop. The Everblades would head into intermission down by a 1-0 score.

The Everblades dominated the third period, outshooting the Breakers 12-2, and had the period's lone power-play, but despite their best efforts they were unable to sneak one past the Breakers goaltender. The game would end in a controversial manner (from the Everblades coaches, players, and parents perspective, anyway) as a whistle with 19.6 seconds left stopped the clock before it somehow ran down to 18.9 seconds before play resumed. Our coach repeatedly yelled to the refs to correct it, but they would not. A scramble in front of the net led to a tip-in by Drew just after time expired. With the 0.7 seconds gone off the clock the goal didn't count, and it wasn't a certainty that it would have anyway, but the lack of recognition by the on-ice officials was frustrating to say the least.

Despite the loss, this was some of the best hockey I have seen from the Everblades this season. Granted, I haven't been to many games lately, but the improvement is definitely noticeable. Way to go Everblades!

14UA Florida Jr. Everblades Game #13 - at Palm Beach Breakers
	Drew gaining control off the puck in his defensive zone.
	Drew passing across the ice to a teammate.
	Drew protecting the area in front of the net.
	Drew making his way down the ice.
	Drew passing the puck once again.
	Drew playing the puck behind the net.
	Drew taking a shot but still managing to get the pass of.
	Drew protecting the front of the net.
	Drew skating back with the puck.
	Drew in position during a faceoff.
	Drew carrying the puck up the ice.
	Drew stopping the puck at center ice...
	...and looking to make a pass.
	Drew battling for position...
	...while playing the puck...
	...then watching the action as his opponent gets up off the ice.
	Drew playing the puck near center ice.
	Drew with the puck as the opposition applies pressure.
	Drew intercepting the puck and skating away from his goal...
	...as an opposing player wipes out trying to keep up.
	Drew using his reach to knock the puck away.
	Drew trying to keep the net-front area clear...
	...and battling with a Breakers player for the puck...
	...and knocking it away...
	...before playing it away from the net.
	Drew keeping an eye on the action.
	Drew skating down the ice.
	Drew trying to block a shot using his body.
	Drew taking control of the puck...
	...before turning and looking to make a pass.
	Drew poking the puck away from a Breakers player.
	Late in the game Drew shifted to offense in an attempt to...
	...screen the goaltender from getting a good luck at the puck...
	...and hopefully get a rebound to tap into the net.
	Drew chasing after the puck.
	Drew back in front of the net...
	...battling for position, taking hits...
	...but not budging.
	The final score was Breakers 1, Jr. Everblades 0.
	Drew and his teammates making their way through the post-game handshake line.

14UA Florida Jr. Everblades Game #13 - at Palm Beach Breakers

Drew gaining control off the puck in his defensive zone.

Drew passing across the ice to a teammate.

Drew protecting the area in front of the net.

Drew making his way down the ice.

Drew passing the puck once again.

Drew playing the puck behind the net.

Drew taking a shot but still managing to get the pass of.

Drew protecting the front of the net.

Drew skating back with the puck.

Drew in position during a faceoff.

Drew carrying the puck up the ice.

Drew stopping the puck at center ice...

...and looking to make a pass.

Drew battling for position...

...while playing the puck...

...then watching the action as his opponent gets up off the ice.

Drew playing the puck near center ice.

Drew with the puck as the opposition applies pressure.

Drew intercepting the puck and skating away from his goal...

...as an opposing player wipes out trying to keep up.

Drew using his reach to knock the puck away.

Drew trying to keep the net-front area clear...

...and battling with a Breakers player for the puck...

...and knocking it away...

...before playing it away from the net.

Drew keeping an eye on the action.

Drew skating down the ice.

Drew trying to block a shot using his body.

Drew taking control of the puck...

...before turning and looking to make a pass.

Drew poking the puck away from a Breakers player.

Late in the game Drew shifted to offense in an attempt to...

...screen the goaltender from getting a good luck at the puck...

...and hopefully get a rebound to tap into the net.

Drew chasing after the puck.

Drew back in front of the net...

...battling for position, taking hits...

...but not budging.

The final score was Breakers 1, Jr. Everblades 0.

Drew and his teammates making their way through the post-game handshake line.